Effortless & Healthy Pesto Pasta with Ground Turkey & Kale: Your Go-To Weeknight Family Dinner
Finding a delicious, nutritious, and quick meal that the entire family will love can feel like a quest, especially on busy weeknights. This Healthy Pesto Pasta with Ground Turkey and Kale is the ultimate solution. It’s an incredibly easy weeknight meal that cleverly incorporates healthy greens, making it a fantastic way to get your kids eating kale without a fuss! If you’re on the lookout for more healthy ground turkey pasta recipes, you’ll definitely want to add this one to your regular rotation.
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Navigating the Busy Parent’s Life: Making Dinner Easy
As a mom navigating the diverse “seasons” of motherhood – with kids aged 12, 9, and a toddler at 3 – I often feel like I’m living in two distinct worlds. For those of you with children in older elementary or middle school, especially if they’re deeply involved in sports and extracurricular activities, you’ll understand the intricate dance that weeknights become. It’s a constant juggle: homework, preparing dinner, and dashing to practices. While it’s demanding, I wouldn’t trade their active involvement in sports for anything.
This shared experience often comes up in conversations with other parents. Whether we’re on the sidelines of a soccer field or waiting outside a dance studio, the topic of dinner inevitably surfaces. We’re all striving for the same goal: how to feed our families in the most straightforward, nutritious way possible, all while keeping up with our hectic schedules. This is the reality many of us face, and I have a strong feeling this particular season of life will pass by in a blink, much like the others have (though I’ll likely be doing it all again with my youngest!).
A photo posted by Aggie Goodman (@aggieskitchen) on
Getting a Quick, Healthy Dinner on the Table: Pesto Pasta to the Rescue!
Lately, my absolute go-to for a fast and satisfying family dinner has been a hearty pasta toss, and this particular healthy ground turkey pasta recipe takes center stage. When I have pesto readily available (you probably already know about my favorite shortcut pesto from Costco by now!), my kids are thrilled to have pesto pasta for dinner. It’s a surprising truth, but for reasons I still can’t quite grasp, they don’t always gravitate towards red sauce. Keeping up with their ever-changing preferences is a challenge, so when I discover a dish that *everyone* genuinely enjoys, I stick with it for as long as possible.
This Pesto Pasta with Ground Turkey and Kale is one of those universally loved dishes, and it’s been making frequent appearances on our dinner table. I enjoy serving it alongside fresh cherry tomatoes and briny Greek olives for an extra burst of flavor and texture. What makes this recipe even better is its adaptability to your family’s preferences. Not a fan of kale? No problem! Simply swap it out for fresh spinach, which wilts down beautifully into the sauce.
Looking for more ways to simplify mealtime? Check out these healthy dinner ideas that make weeknights a breeze.
If your family shares our love for pesto, explore more healthy recipes with pesto here.
The Benefits of Ground Turkey and Sneaking in Kale
Ground turkey is an excellent lean protein source, making it a healthier alternative to other meats. It’s incredibly versatile, taking on the flavors of the ingredients it’s cooked with, which makes it perfect for absorbing the rich taste of pesto. This recipe leverages ground turkey to create a hearty, satisfying meal without feeling heavy, ensuring your family gets the protein they need.
Introducing more kale into your family’s diet can be a challenge, but this Pesto Pasta with Ground Turkey and Kale offers a brilliant solution. The finely chopped kale wilts down and blends seamlessly into the pasta and pesto sauce, making it almost undetectable, especially for picky eaters. You’ll be amazed at how easily your kids will eat their greens when they’re coated in delicious pesto and complemented by the savory turkey. Of course, the crumbled feta cheese adds an extra layer of salty, tangy deliciousness that really brings all the flavors together.
Customizing Your Skillet Pasta Perfection
One of the best aspects of this pesto pasta is its flexibility. Don’t have rotini? Any short pasta shape like penne, farfalle, or even spaghetti broken into smaller pieces will work beautifully. Feel free to adjust the amount of pesto to your family’s liking – start with ¾ cup and add more if you prefer a stronger pesto flavor. While feta adds a wonderful tang, you could also experiment with grated Parmesan or a dairy-free cheese alternative if preferred. If you want to boost the veggie content even further, consider stirring in some sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, or even a handful of baby spinach along with the kale.
I am a huge fan of exploring new skillet pasta meals because they mean less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner with the family. This Pesto Pasta with Ground Turkey and Kale is a prime example of quick, efficient cooking. I’ve also got my eye on trying this Skillet Sausage Pasta and this Chicken Parmesan Pasta Skillet soon!
I hope this recipe helps make your busy weeknights a little easier and a lot more delicious!
Print Recipe
Pesto Pasta with Ground Turkey and Kale
Author: Aggie Goodman
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Pasta
Method: Skillet
Cuisine: Italian
This healthy Pesto Pasta with Ground Turkey and Kale is a super easy 30 minute meal that will get your family eating their greens.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb whole wheat rotini pasta (you can use whatever shape you have)
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- big pinch coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
- 2 large handfuls kale, chopped into small pieces
- 3/4 – 1 cup prepared pesto
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta (use more if you like)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- While pasta is cooking, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey and brown thoroughly, breaking it up with a spoon. Season the turkey with garlic powder, a generous pinch of coarse salt, and fresh ground pepper. Once the turkey is almost cooked through, add the chopped kale. Continue to cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the kale has softened. Add 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to the turkey and kale mixture to create a light sauce. Season with a little more salt and pepper to taste. Turn off the heat once the kale is tender.
- When the pasta is ready, use a large slotted spoon to transfer the cooked pasta directly into the skillet with the turkey and kale mixture. (Alternatively, drain the pasta in a colander and then add it to the skillet.) Add the prepared pesto to the pasta, turkey, and kale, and toss gently until everything is well combined and coated in the pesto sauce. Finally, sprinkle in the crumbled feta cheese and give it another gentle toss. Serve immediately with fresh tomato wedges and Kalamata olives on the side for a complete meal.
Notes
For this recipe, I highly recommend using a high-quality nonstick skillet like my favorite Calphalon Unison Everyday Skillet. Its even heating and easy release make cooking and cleanup a breeze.